Alcohol Justice supports FTC Four Loko labeling order

Alcohol Justice, a California-based non-profit advocacy, research and policy organization, has supported the initiative taken by Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in forcing Phusion Projects to put labels on its alcopop drink Four Loko.

According to Alcohol Justice, alcopops, also known as flavored malt beverages (FMB's), contain around 1.5oz of ethanol, which drive youth to binge drinking. The initiative was to make people aware of the inherent dangers of alcopops and their ingredients like ethyl alcohol.

As a precautionary measure, FTC asked Phusion Projects to place a 'Alcohol Facts' label with information regarding the number of standard-sized drinks in each can and cap the products with re-sealable tops.

The FTC's decision and order currently applies only to Phusion Projects alcopops.

Alcohol Justice executive director and CEO Bruce Lee Livingston said the FTC order is good but is a small step in controlling public menace of alcopops.

"We demand full rule-making by FTC so that all alcopops, beer, wine, and distilled spirits products will also be forced to comply. Unfortunately the FTC has also punted by claiming it cannot order a reduction in ethyl alcohol content or fluid size of Four Loko or other similar youth-oriented, supersized alcopops," Livingston added.

"We will also continue to call for an end to the alcopops FMB product category, be it by federal regulation, state legislation, or voluntary retailer self-imposed ban in response to community pressure for Alcopops-Free Zones."

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